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Rutherford

American  
[ruhth-er-ferd, ruhth-] / ˈrʌð ər fərd, ˈrʌθ- /

noun

  1. Daniel, 1749–1819, Scottish physician and chemist: discoverer of nitrogen.

  2. Ernest 1st Baron Rutherford of Nelson, 1871–1937, English physicist, born in New Zealand: Nobel Prize in chemistry 1908.

  3. John Sherman Johnny, born 1938, U.S. racing-car driver.

  4. Joseph Franklin, 1869–1942, U.S. leader of Jehovah's Witnesses.

  5. Dame Margaret, 1892–1972, British actress.

  6. a city in NE New Jersey.

Rutherford 1 British  
/ ˈrʌðəfəd /

noun

  1. Ernest , 1st Baron. 1871–1937, British physicist, born in New Zealand, who discovered the atomic nucleus (1909). Nobel prize for chemistry 1908

  2. Dame Margaret . 1892–1972, British stage and screen actress. Her films include Passport to Pimlico (1949), Murder She Said (1962), and The VIPs (1963)

  3. Mark , original name William Hale White . 1831–1913, British novelist and writer, whose work deals with his religious uncertainties: best known for The Autobiography of Mark Rutherford (1881) and the novel The Revolution in Tanner's Lane (1887)

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
rutherford 2 British  
/ ˈrʌðəfəd /

noun

  1.  rd.  a unit of activity equal to the quantity of a radioactive nuclide required to produce one million disintegrations per second

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Rutherford Scientific  
/ rŭth′ər-fərd /

  1. New Zealand-born British physicist who was a pioneer of subatomic physics. He discovered the atomic nucleus and named the proton. Rutherford demonstrated that radioactive elements give off three types of rays, which he named alpha, beta, and gamma, and invented the term half-life to measure the rate of radioactive decay. For this work he was awarded the Nobel Prize for chemistry in 1908.

Etymology

Origin of rutherford

C20: named after Ernest Rutherford

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Sherfane Rutherford, who couldn't capitalise on being dropped on three, Rovman Powell, and Matthew Forde joined the procession back to the dressing room before Shepherd and Holder came together in the 11th over.

From BBC

Sherfane Rutherford was the main beneficiary, scoring 74 from 42 deliveries, while being dropped on 23 and 56.

From BBC

In the past, both Collins and Rutherford joked about Banks’ stubborn streak.

From Los Angeles Times

But Sherfane Rutherford gave the innings late impetus by hitting 57 not out off 24 balls.

From Barron's

It will end July 19 in East Rutherford, N.J., with the final beginning at 3 p.m.

From Los Angeles Times

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.